Much delayed but much to share

Alright...let me start by apologizing for the gap in my posts. Obviously I am not a seasoned blogger as of yet.  While the main reason for the delay is forgetfulness, I must also say that I was struggling to locate an ingredient for one of the recipes that I desired to critique.  I mentioned in my last post that I was going to be making taco cupcakes.  Well...didn't happen.  The recipe calls for wonton wrappers and says that they are often in the produce section.  It would seem that my available grocers do not carry said wonton wrappers.  It's either that or I am just missing them...repeatedly...even with employee assistance.  This saddens me on many levels, but primarily because the recipe combines two of my most favorite things (tacos and cupcakes) and I am desperate to try it. Ah, well...some other time.  Instead, I have attempted three other pins that I hope you will enjoy. :)


1) Angel Food Dump Cake
               Ingredients: 1 can of apple pie filling, 1 box of angel food cake mix, sugar,
                                        and cinnamon

It is basically your standard dump cake, but it has a lighter texture.  This is both good and bad.  Good because it is super yummy. Bad because you want to eat so much more of it. You simply mix the dry cake mix with the can of pie filling and pour it into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar (to taste) and bake 350 (325 if using a glass pan) for 20-30 min.  One of the things it says is to be careful not to over bake.  It is done when the top is browned but the cake is not completely set.  This can be tricky to determine.  I have had one perfect outcome...one epic fail...and one that was so-so (yes I have made it that many times...it's good!).  I like to have apple in every bite, so I tried adding additional apples (without the syrup of the pie filling), but that made it too wet.  The next time I just cut my apples up and that helped them spread evenly throughout the pan.  All in all a very tasty, super easy, fun dessert!

2) Potato Pouches
           Ingredients: 10-12 small red potatoes, 1 packet of ranch dressing mix, 6 slices of cooked
                                  bacon, salt, pepper, butter, 3 sheets of heavy-duty foil

This.was.awesome.  You slice up the potatoes (thin slices).  I put the salt and pepper (to taste) on all of the potatoes at once and mixed them up well so that the seasonings were distributed evenly.  Spray each piece of foil with cooking spray.  Place an equal amount of potatoes on each piece of foil.  Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix equally over all the potatoes (you could mix this in when you do the salt and pepper if you'd like...but I liked it better just on the top of the potatoes).  Crumble up your bacon and sprinkle it evenly among the three servings of potatoes.  The recipe then calls for you to place 1 tablespoon of butter on the top of each serving. The first time I made this I totally forgot to add the butter here...and they turned out just fine.  We just added butter at the table if we wanted it. The next time I made it I did as the recipe instructed...still wonderful.

                                               (completed pouch minus the butter on top)

After all your ingredients are on the foil, fold it up so that it makes a little pouch...completely "sealed."  The original recipe calls for them to then cook on the grill for 20-30 min. I also have done this in the oven for roughly the same amount of time...I believe I set the temp to 375.  Both options work.  These potatoes were a HUGE hit...and rightly so!

3)  Sharpie art on mugs
               Supplies:  sharpie markers and white ceramic coffee mugs

This activity was both incredibly fun...and completely frustrating.  I decided to be a fun aunt and purchased mugs for my nieces and nephews to decorate.  I came armed with loads of markers and plenty of mugs for all.  We had a blast decorating them. After they are decorated, they are to baked in an oven at 350 for 25 min. This is to make the marker permanently affixed to the mugs and keep it from coming off when you wash it.  We used lots of bright colors and metallics along with standard black sharpie.  Nowhere in any of the pins for this activity did it say that colored sharpies would not work well.  We baked them, let them cool, and when I went to wash them before we drank out of them the colored sharpie on my niece's mug wiped right off.  Boo.  It did not wipe off of my mug as easily as it did hers, but it does come off somewhat if you rub it with your fingers.  This is a tragedy. All is not completely lost, however.  The black and metallic markers help up beautifully.  So, lesson learned...don't use colored sharpies...or don't ever use the mug.  In either case, I would definitely not put your decorated mug in the dishwasher.

                           (one side of my amazing mug...with the color holding up pretty well)

There you have it.  A much delayed but lengthy post. Enjoy!

Dry skin and Listerine

So, this go-round I have attempted to rid my feet of dry, cracked skin.  Let's just jump right on in.

 "...the BEST way to get your feet ready for summer."

This pin promised a lot. While I enjoy a good pedicure as much as the next person, I am always looking for ways to get the same result for far less money. Therefore, when I read this pin and all it claimed to accomplish...I was intrigued. 

Directions: Mix 1/4 cup Listerine (you read that right), 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/2 cup of warm water.  Soak your feet for 10 minutes "and when you take them out the dead skin will practically wipe off!"  (You can see why I was so excited to try it!)

I did exactly as I was instructed.  It seemed like far less liquid than one would expect for such a task.  The only thing I had that would fit both of my feet comfortably was a glass, 9x13 baking dish (don't judge). 

It is hard to see the mixture, but I promise it is there.  It did come most of the way up the back of my heels (at least past the dead skin part), but if I tried this again I would probably double the suggested amounts to be sure.  I stuck my feet in and set the timer for 10 minutes.  During this time period, my feet definitely felt tingly, and my nasal passages were most certainly opened up (not something the pin said would happen).  When the timer went off, I was filled with anticipation as I went to "wipe the dead skin off."  Yeah...that didn't happen. The skin was softer, but I still had to do some pretty serious work with the pumice stone to see any real difference (and my feet weren't that bad...I do take care of them regularly).  I was surprised to find something that the pin failed to mention....my feel were blue! I selected the blue Listerine as it was recommended by the original pinner....and my feet soaked up that color well.  I tried to take a picture of that...but I was laughing too hard to get a good one.  Most of the color scrubbed off fairly easily, but some of it lingered for a day or so.  I cannot say that this is a successful pin based on its description, but my blue feet (and even my lower legs) were very relaxed afterward.  So, maybe there are positives after all.  I may give this a go one more time to see if it works any better.

I have a couple of fun food pins lined up for the next post.  I will be making taco cupcakes and using my new favorite egg-less cookie dough recipe (I shared the recipe on my Facebook page a couple of weeks ago) in homemade ice cream.  My hope is that it will freeze well and hold up in the ice cream maker....wish me luck! 

Chicken Delishiousness

I am having fun perusing my boards and selecting which pins to post about next.  Normally, I will just blog once a week, but tonight's pin was just too good not to share immediately!  I have no idea what they called it...but I call it delicious!

Ingredients: Chicken breast (boneless and skinless....recipe calls for 4 but my supermarket pkg had 3)
                    1 box stove top (I used the one for chicken...but I think the savory herb would be great
                                   as well)
                    1/2 cup sour cream
                    1 can cream of chicken soup
                    1/4 cup water

This cooks in your trusty crock pot.  I love crock pot cooking in the summer because they use less energy than the oven and put off way less heat. 

First, you put your chicken in the bottom of the crock pot.

Next, dump the box of stove top over the chicken.

Combine the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and water in a bowl and stir well.  Once it is nice and creamy pour it over the stove top and spread out as evenly as possible.

Put the lid on and cook on low for 4 hours.  That's it...it is literally that easy!!  When it's all done and you are ready to serve it, take a fork and "fluff" the stove top up a bit.  It will help to stir in the remaining "sauce" and you will not be sorry. 

I forgot to take a picture of the crock pot before I plated it...I was so ready to eat it that I wasn't thinking! The chicken just fell apart but wasn't the least bit dry.  You could even add some cheese to the top if you wanted!  This was hands down one of the easiest meals I have ever made. Hope you will enjoy it, too!!  Another big thumbs up for this one!!

Once Upon a Pinterest...

Ok...I, like many others, am a hardcore Pinterest addict.  I love it.  All of it.  The funny bits, the food, the crafty ideas, the home decor...you name it, I will pin it.  My intentions upon pinning are always good.  "Oh! That looks so good!  I will grab those ingredients at the store and make that this week!"  Yeah right.  So many pins...so little time.  One of the blessings of my profession is a short break in the summer. (Disclaimer--Yes, teachers get some time off.  However, I am attending several workshops, realigning my curriculum to new state standards, reading the new novels I will be reading again with my students in the the next year, and working in my classroom....and I am far from the busiest teacher in the summertime. Just in case you wanted to make the "I wish I was a teacher so that I could only work 9 months a year comment...because you shouldn't. :) )  That being said, I have decided to take some of my "time off" to try out those pins just sitting on my various boards waiting to be used.  I will report back here with the outcomes as sort of a public service announcement for the posterity of any others who were wondering about said pins.  Fun...yes?  Hope so...because here we go!


Today I will be discussing two pins: one claiming to be the "ONLY" floor cleaner you will ever need and another for homemade brownie mix. 

1) Floor Cleaner
    Ingredients: 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 TBS liquid dish soap, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 2 gallons
    of very warm tap water
( I have white, ceramic tile in my kitchen/bathrooms and wood tile in my husband's office. )

The description on the pin said that my floors would be spotless and everything would be left "smelling amazing."  Well...here's the scoop...they were half right!  My floors were definitely sparkly clean and it was super easy (and cheap) to mix up.  It made loads of suds (which I love) and my floors were not remotely sticky afterward. It is also a safe, (harsh) chemical-free cleaning alternative.  I am by no means the greenest person on the planet...though I would love to be...but I do always try to find environmentally/pet/kid friendly products for cleaning...and this fit the bill for me!  As for the smelling great part....I didn't notice much of a smell at all. At first, I was worried that it would have a strong vinegar smell that would linger for a while...but that was not the case.  I think the lack of smell is what I like most about it. Clean floors...no strong odor...safe for the family/environment...sold!  I give this pin a thumbs up!! 


2) "You'll never buy boxed brownie mix again!"
     Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 2 eggs,
     1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp vanilla
     Bake: 350 F for 20-25 min

I am married to the biggest brownie lover I have ever met...and he can be particular.  So, when I saw this recipe I decided to give it a whirl and not tell him they were made from scratch. If I said that they were a hit, that would be an understatement.  He LOVED them!  The ingredients are already in you pantry (for most folks) and it takes no time at all to whip them up (which is both dangerous and wonderful).  I will admit that they are not always as moist as some store-bought brownie mixes, but they are always tasty.  I use the Pampered Chef brownie pan (if you don't have one...find a consultant and order one ASAP...LIFE CHANGING!!) and the recipe yields the perfect amount.  I also love that it is super easy to double/triple if you need a larger number of treats.  The BEST part about this is it's gift value.  You can mix up the dry ingredients, put them in a sassy little jar/baggie, attach a card with the rest of the recipe, and voila! The perfect teacher/hostess gift!  You could even just mix up several baggies of dry ingredients to keep on hand for your own benefit.  All-in-all, this is a winner for me!

I hope you will stay tuned for the next installment of my Pinterest adventures!  I welcome any pin suggestions and would love to have someone write a guest post or two about their experiences! Until next time!!                   

Leftover Thankfulness

November is a time of thanks. We pause to be thankful for our family, friends, jobs...some even take the time to be publicly thankful each day for a different blessing.  I am ridiculously blessed.  God placed me in the arms of parents who loved me from the moment they knew I existed.  They nurtured me, disciplined me, provided for me, encouraged me to learn something new whenever possible, lavished love on me in more ways than I could ever count, and pointed me to Jesus each and every day.  With those parents came extended families that joined with them in raising me to love big, laugh much, learn always and seek God. When I went to college I got to experience a whole new kind of blessing...education.  I got to choose what I wanted to study.  I got to dig deep into beautiful pieces of literature, both the good and bad parts of our history, examine how things work, and establish my own beliefs, opinions and identity.  After graduation I was blessed to find a job in the field that I love  and to be able to work in the same place for six years.  God blessed me beyond measure when he brought the man who was to be husband back into my life after so many years.  With that amazing husband came a remarkable family that has shown me a whole new kind of love and acceptance.  I could go on and on about all the ways that God has chosen to bless my life.  I am thankful every single day.

December is a time of giving.  I pray that this holiday season, as you are busy shopping for family friends...desperately seeking out those perfect gifts for those you love...you would continue to be thankful.  I ask that you remember your blessings and think about those who are less fortunate.  Let your thankfulness and blessings pour out onto others in the same manner that they were poured out onto you.  Truly be cheerful this season...don't let crowded parking lots, busy stores, long lines, or last minute shopping rob you of your joy. 

Let us not allow ourselves to put thankfulness on the shelf until next November.  Thankfulness does not have an expiration date...or calories...so feel free indulge in the richness it will bring to your life.

Faith like a...

How would you finish that statement? Child? Mustard seed? It has been completed many different ways over the years.  Sunday, I worshipped in a church that has a thriving ministry for adults with special needs.  Those who most of society has cast aside.  Those that make many stare, cringe, or change seats in a movie theater.  Here, they are welcomed, embraced, & encouraged.  They sit among the rest of the congregation as one united body of believers...no judgement, no running away.  One man in particular caught my eye this week.  He sat on the very front row...you know, the one that most of us avoid like the plague. As praise songs were sung, he clapped and danced and smiled and sang wholeheartedly.  Some might consider that a distraction...inappropriate for Sunday morning worship.  I found it humbling.  His faith is so genuine and pure that he cannot keep still...it pours out of him without shame or concern of what others might think.  How freeing! I want THAT faith.

Real.Absolute.Joyous.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This week in Room 34 we learned about respect.  Respecting our school.  Respecting adults.  Respecting our freedoms. Respecting each other. Respecting "the process."  Respecting our leaders.  From the first minute election results started coming in, the news feed on my "social media page of choice" began to explode with comments from all sides. Some were simple reactions to the way things work...electoral college vs popular vote, types of ballots, recounts, etc. Others were comments about the candidates themselves...I hope my candidate wins, I hope the other candidate loses, I don't care for either candidate, etc.  Then, the winner was called, the concession speech was given...and people got nasty.  I went to bed. I have no interest in mean-spirited comments. The next morning I got up, looked up the most recent/final results, and went to work.  My students have been studying both candidates, making their own decisions about who they felt was the better choice, and some got to vote for the very first time. Those who voted for the winning candidate were ecstatic.  Those who voted for the losing candidate were devastated. These are normal reactions.  Both candidates couldn't come out winners.  We had discussed for weeks that this would be an extremely close election, and that it truthfully could go either way.  Those who were "victorious" calmed down and were gracious.  Those who were "defeated" took a deep breath and began talking about how everything starts over again in four years.  I encouraged all of them to take pride in their vote...no matter the candidate...and to not become so discouraged that they stop participating in "the process."  They were mature and honest and respectful...and I was extremely proud.  My younger students...those who are not old enough to vote, those who did not spend as much time learning about both sides, those who are affected by but not responsible for the outcome of the election...were a different story.  The things that they were saying to each other...the comments made about the President, the comments made about Gov. Romney, the comments made about the outcome of the election...were the opposite of respectful.  So...we had a chat.  We learned that one of the many beauties of voting by secret ballot is that...it's a secret.  You do not have to tell anyone who got your vote.  Your vote can be as personal and private as you wish it to be.  We learned that it is always important to be gracious...whether you win or lose.  We learned that the office of President is an important one...and even if you do not care for the candidate chosen to fill it you MUST respect the office itself.  We learned that hate in the form of words is the worst kind of hate...because you can never take your words back...words are forever.  We learned that if you don't like something and you want it changed, there are ways to respectfully request that change...you may not always get what you ask for, but you can be proud you went about asking for it the right way.  When my room was empty, and those conversations were over, I asked myself these questions: Where do children learn disrespect? Where do children learn hate? What kind of example are we setting for the young people in our lives?  Do we, as adults, realize that those children for whom we are so incredibly responsible are the future leaders of our nation?  Do we, as adults, realize that the hate, disrespect, and negativity that we are modeling for those young people will be forever burned in their minds as the "right" way to approach things? What will that mean for our country in 10, 15, 20 years time?  Do we want to be forever known as a nation that handles disagreements, conflict, and challenges with hateful, disrespectful words and actions?  What can I do to prepare our future generations for leadership?

The responsibility is great.